Come what may

NADROGA Rugby Union is ready to face the consequences, if any, resulting from its decision to boycott the Skipper Cup semi-final unless the governing body meets its demands.

Nadroga president Tiko Matawalu said they were taking this step for the betterment of rugby in Fiji.

Nadroga rugby has given FRU an ultimatum to pay the monies and rewards owed to players by the end of the week or face boycott.

"We do understand the costs we will bear, but we are willing to do that for Fiji rugby as a whole," Matawalu wrote in an email copied to the FRU board members.

He said the costs would not be substantial when compared with the costs the unions would bear should this continue.

"It has nothing to do with our FRU constitution but a pure bold step on behalf of the unions to revive Fiji rugby and its administration."

In a set of demands sent by Nadroga rugby, they want the man of the match payments from round one, grocery rations to unions, top prizemoney for seniors and under-20s and to circulate Farebrother challenge rules before Friday, August 1, or they will boycott the remaining games of the Skipper Cup and Farebrother.

The Skipper Cup competition is poised for semi-final stages with Nadroga taking on Suva and Naitasiri hosting Nadi.

Matawalu said they also demanded a meeting on Saturday, August 2, with all unions.

He said this would be to discuss all outstanding matters before teams moved into semi-final proper, and review semi-finals, final and Farebrother match officiating procedures.

Matawalu said these were Nadroga rugby's demands as a major leading union.

"We are taking this bold step to help revive Fiji rugby.

"It seems that our concerns raised since the beginning of the year 2014 have fallen on stones which may have been taken away by the birds of the air.

"We will be liaising with all unions to confirm receiving their dues by close of business this Friday.

"You have the right to decline to our demands while we also have our right to boycott our semi-final and Farebrother games."

Queries were sent to FRU early yesterday but rugby's parent body had yet to comment when this edition went to press last night.